Thursday 2 January 2014

Vietnam thoughts

Farewel Vietnam. I loved you and should I return to Asia I will seek you out but off the beaten track.  As much as I didnt want to do,touristbtraps anywhere, it seems that is all i did and have left feeling as though I cheated myself.

A land of contrasts:
From the sleazy insanity of the Old Quarter in Hanoi to the mature serenity of Hoi An
From the old ramshackle homes along the river in HCMC right next door to the stately villas.
From the beautiful and expert tailoring of HoiAn to the slapdash way that everything is executed.
From the Hanoi Pho we enjoyed while sitting in the tiny plastic chairs on the pavement to the LaoCau we had on wee wooden chairs in Hoi An
From the swarming masses of the village touts in Sapa to the workers asleep on the job
From a horrendous recent history has come a people of humility and smiles
From Vietnamese drip coffee to BaBaBa beer
From the pretty lanterns to the Mariachi Band in Hoi An.  Both totally unexpected.
From Christmas Eve around Hoan Kiem lake to New Year amongst the lanterns in Hoi an. Both magical
From the rude people in Sapa to the loveliness of the people of HCMC
From the amazing betel nut rolls we had on the street in Hoi An to the magnificent meal we enjoyed at Koto in Hanoi
From the huge parks and prettiness in central HCMC to the sleaziness of the wholesale market further out of the city
From spending time with the kids to meeting by chance my best friends friends in a coffee shop in Hanoi and again in the street in Hoi An
From the wee lad dancing in the street in Hanoi to the homeless children in Sapa
From those that couldnt speak to us to those that thought they could and came up with words like, nutterlar
From the overnight train to the madness of the road traffic.

Chiao Vietnam.  Gamun.






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